I just don't get the T54E1

I'm averaging something like 42% and 1700 damage in this thing after 40 battles. That average damage is worse than some of my tier sevens. I don't think the T54E1 is a bad tank - in fact, I think it's quite strong - but I can't figure out for the love of god how to make it work. Can anyone offer some tips on how to drive it? Any criticism is fine with me, so roast away.

Everything is about the gun. Your only reason for mobility is to get that gun into position, fire off your magazine, then get you back to cover. It works best as a sideline or second line support gun but it can temporarily hold the frontline with a full clip. The clip itself can lead to leapfrog maneuvers between you and another autoloader so long as one covers with suppression fire and the other is on reload and relocating.

One thing to note other than the gun itself is the turret. It wont bounce a lot of shots, but the angles and gun depression can lend itself to hulldown tactics that will bounce a fair bit of damage coming your way. Take advantage of ridgelines this way to pop off your clip and duck back undercover quick.

Sometimes, you just gotta sit back and watch them all burn. Don't forget to bring popcorn. You're going to need a snack.

I use hull down spots on the map. It’s spots I play are on medium sides of the map but the real gem is the 900+ HP dump and APCR premium ammo. Focus on 1800 HP targets to cut them in half then 900-600 HP tanks for the kill.

I'm at the T54E1 on my 57 grind. I'm doing worse than my T69, but not a train wreck yet.

It seems like 400 damage or 4000 damage games with nothing in between. Reality is I'm averaging over 2K damage but I'm not quite getting the full potential out of the tank.

Advice is free so here goes:

In the current meta if there are even number mediums or if your team has more mediums AND THEY FLANK WITH CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE then roll with them. If they wave gun around and roll back and forth etc. then don't even think of flanking, rather stay in the literal shade of the heavies. Pick targets isolated at the edge of the enemy pack and do your best to dump your clip after they have fired or if they are not pointed at you. Be patient, be a camper wimp coward whatever and pick your moments to engage. Your best opportunities may be when the enemy smells blood and rushes your low HP heavies, be in position to vulture damage when they yolo tunnel your teammates, you will not only do damage uncontested you may actually help clear the kill obsessed red and keep a green gun in the game, 930 alpha is considerable at tier 9. Keep your hit point pool up for end of game, this is when you put your boss pants on and smash faces. The one to two shot enemies falling in rapid order with 60 seconds left is the most rewarding aspect of driving this thing.

I'm at the T54E1 on my 57 grind. I'm doing worse than my T69, but not a train wreck yet.

It seems like 400 damage or 4000 damage games with nothing in between. Reality is I'm averaging over 2K damage but I'm not quite getting the full potential out of the tank.

Advice is free so here goes:

In the current meta if there are even number mediums or if your team has more mediums AND THEY FLANK WITH CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE then roll with them. If they wave gun around and roll back and forth etc. then don't even think of flanking, rather stay in the literal shade of the heavies. Pick targets isolated at the edge of the enemy pack and do your best to dump your clip after they have fired or if they are not pointed at you. Be patient, be a camper wimp coward whatever and pick your moments to engage. Your best opportunities may be when the enemy smells blood and rushes your low HP heavies, be in position to vulture damage when they yolo tunnel your teammates, you will not only do damage uncontested you may actually help clear the kill obsessed red and keep a green gun in the game, 930 alpha is considerable at tier 9. Keep your hit point pool up for end of game, this is when you put your boss pants on and smash faces. The one to two shot enemies falling in rapid order with 60 seconds left is the most rewarding aspect of driving this thing.

^ Advice above is very sound. It is very easy to get wrecked in this tank. I am not good in the tank and think that the AMX 50 120 is a better tank, especially in the T10 games, but I noticed a few things:

1) The tank is a good sniper, due to its fast aim time. You can snap shoot a low HP tank and probably destroy it better than most other tanks. When you are on reload and getting rushed, shoveling the turret in their face can get you bounces.

2) Armor sucks, but you can get lucky bounces, I always try to have another green tank and/or hardcover between you and the reds

3) The tank sucks at spotting, The reds will see you before you see them. The clippers tend to have bad camo values, I believe.

The T54E1 should be renamed, "The Sheriff of Nottingham" because it is a Tax Collector for credits. You can smoke the other team with 2K damage, take light damage yourself, and still owe credits at the end of the game.